IKEA completes store in vienna, defined by green facade of huge 'shelving'

a good neighbor

IKEA announces the completion of its Querkraft Architekten-designed store in Vienna, defined by its green façades, green roof terrace, and no car parking. During the initial design stages of the project, IKEA told the architects ‘we want to be a good neighbor.’ In response to this objective the building takes shape to introduce an added value for its urban context.

With its roof terrace open to the public, a wealth of potted plant-life on each facade, a café, a friendly outdoor space, and even a hostel, the seven-story work of architecture succeeds in its mission to stand as a ‘good neighbor’ in Vienna (see designboom’s previous coverage here).

image © christina häusler

the facade of massive ikea shelving

The IKEA (see here) store in Vienna is at once recognized by its occupiable envelope, which recalls a series of massive shelving units. Designed by Querkraft Architekten (see here), this area of stacking terraces is 4.5 meters deep (15 feet) and allows room for planting and for service elements including lifts, escape staircases, restrooms, and building services.

The ground level is vibrant with public life, and opens broadly with a mezzanine level and retail areas facing Mariahilfer Straße. The interiors are organized as a ‘continuous void’ which maintains a visual connection between each floor. this encourages visitors to make their way to the upper floors, connected by escalators, up to the publically accessible rooftop. Meanwhile, the upper two floors house the hostel.

image © hertha hurnaus

passively reducing vienna’s urban heat island

The Vienna IKEA integrates around 160 large trees into its facade and atop its roof. The design team at Querkraft Architekten notes that this plant-life has a perceptible influence on the microclimate. Planting is one of the most important measures in the ‘urban heat island strategy plan of the city of Vienna.’ The trees provide cooling and moisture, a natural and passive strategy of air conditioning. The air temperature at pedestrian level will also be improved by these measures.

image © hertha hurnaus

the efficient design by querkraft architekten

To ensure the efficient conditioning of the IKEA store, building services are organized with a simple principle — short distances and direct access. The infrastructure in the building is exposed, which increases the perceptible height of the spaces. The prefabricated reinforced concrete columns are on a grid of about 10 x 10 meters, allowing flexibility in the design and use of the spaces.

image © hertha hurnaus
image © hertha hurnaus

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image © hertha hurnaus

project info:

name: IKEA am Westbahnhof

architect: Querkraft Architekten | @querkraft.architekten

location: Westbahnhof, Vienna, Austria

size: 21600 m2

client: IKEA / Rodolphe de Campos

querkraft partners: Jakob Dunkl, Gerd Erhartt, Peter Sapp

project manager IKEA construction: Robert Charuza

retail and real estate: Sandra Sindler-Larsson

project manager querkraft: Carmen Hottinger, Ursula Konzett

team: Sonja Mitsch, Margarita Shileva, Johanna Sieberer, Maximilian Quick, Michael Voit, Veronika Felber

team (competition): Gil Cloos, Claudia Cikanek, Fabian Kahr, Magdalena Süss, Peter Hanna, Meryl Leyhe, Carsten Sibal, Theresa Steinlein, Theresa Amesberger